Rob Mulligan

Conga
Background Vocals
Robert Mulligan is one of the most sought-after percussionists/educators in the Midwest. His career includes performing and/or recording with some of the top Latin, Jazz and Pop musicians in mid-America, including Marcos Cavalcante, Steve Talaga, Andrew Lázaro's Caribe Breeze, Aretha Franklin, Daniel Castro, Orquesta Sabrosa, Ritmo, Terry Lower and many others.

Rob has been making music all his life, but his serious music training began with the drums. He studied Percussion at Interlochen Arts Academy, where his drum mentor was John Alfieri. He then attended University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music, where he studied Jazz and percussion under John Von Olen. He earned his B.S. degree at Western Michigan University and a Master's Degree in Education from Indiana University. While at Indiana he performed with the IU Latin American Percussion Ensemble and Latin Big Band, led by maestro Andrew Lázaro.

Throughout his professional life he has continued to broaden his musical scope and expertise by studying with such groups as Teatro America in Havana, Cuba and the acclaimed Cuban folkloric group, Afro-Cuba de Matanzas. Rob's extensive travels in Latin America and Spain have not only enhanced his musical and cultural knowledge, but have contributed to his fluency in the Spanish language. The fact that Rob is completely bilingual has opened many musical doors for him and allowed him to perform and record with some of Latin America's finest musicians.

Terry Lower ( website )
Juan Daniel Castro
Richey Kicklighter
Areatha Franklin
Steve Talaga
Evidence ( website )
Jim Cooper Quintet ( website )
Oxter/Mahone ( website | email )
Tom Prasada Rao
Orquesta Sabrosa
Marcos Cavalcante
Andrew Lázaro
Ricardo Larange
Drew Nelson ( website | email )
Homunculus
Mind's Eye
Tim Froncek and the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra
Orquesta Ayé
Ritmo ( website )
And many more.